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Doug Ellison

I’m the planning team chief for NASA’s Curiosity rover at JPL and have more than 10 years of surface ops experience across multiple rovers. I also enjoy give talks about the science, engineering and management of missions like Curiosity to audiences of all ages.

Martian landscape postcard

I joined NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in 2010 to work on data visualization projects for education and public outreach before moving to the Curiosity rover team in 2016 and the Opportunity rover team in 2017, serving as an Engineering Camera operator on both spacecraft.

VSTB Camera Mast

Since the end of the Opportunity mission I've worked full time on the Curiosity rover and have been its planning team chief since 2022.

I have commanded the taking of over 35,000 pictures on Mars.

Curiosity Twilight Clouds, sol 3072

When not exploring Mars, I enjoy exploring the American South West, landscape and motorsport photography, endurance sim racing, and giving talks about the adventures of space exploration.

James Hinchcliffe - Long Beach 2021

See outreach for talks and media, projects for some of my personal projects papers for publications.

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